Heat transfer with phase change around finned cylindrical tubes: Theory and experiments

Conference · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)

OSTI ID:6892948

Kamal, A; Alves, C L.F.; Ismail, R

In order to increase the heat transfer rate and reduce the convective effects in latent heat storage tanks externally finned cylinderical tubes are used where the working fluid passes inside the tubes and the finned part submerged in the phase change material. A mathematical model is developed using the enthalpy approach and the numerical treatment is done using an ADI technique. Numerical results showing the effect of fin thickness, number of fins, length of fin and ratio of diameters of inner to outer tube are obtained, analysed and discussed. It is found that fin thickness has very little effect on the heat transfer rate. Number of fins, length of fin and ratio of inner to outer diameters are found to be great effect as can be verified from attached grafs. An experimental rig is designed, installed and instrumented in order to verify the theoretical findings and the validity of the model. Various cupper tubes models are used with Ecusan parrafin as phase change material. Models with 3, 4, 5 and 7 fins are used. Fins of various length are also used. Experimental results obtained are plotted to compare with the theoretical results. The agreements is found to be good, as shown in the grafs. It is found that the increase of number of fins leads and length of fin to suppressing convective currents and increase the heat transfer and solidification rates. The thickness and fin material are found to have very little effect on the heat transfer and solidification rates. In the mean time the ratio of diameters of the inner and the outer tubes is found to increase the heat transfer and solidification rates.

• Research Organization: DEM-FEC-UNICAMP Campinas
• OSTI ID: 6892948
• Report Number(s): CONF-831205-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
CONFIGURATION
CONTAINERS
CONVECTION
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
FINS
FLOW RATE
FLUIDS
HEAT FLOW
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
LATENT HEAT STORAGE
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLIDIFICATION
STORAGE
TANKS
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TUBES